A rare, sealed copy of a book signed by the British artist who shot to fame for his sculptures of animals in formaldehyde, Damien Hirst, has been handed into Emmaus Bolton.
The message inside ‘I Want to Spend the Rest of My Life Everywhere, with Everyone, One to One, Always, Forever, Now’ put together by Hirst remains top secret as the book is still in its original wrapping from when it was purchased in the 1990s.
The unique gift was donated to Emmaus Bolton by one of its trustees, to help raise the vital income that the charity needs to provide a home, support, training and work opportunities for people with experience of homelessness.
Tony Stephenson, Director of Emmaus Bolton, said: “We believe there are only 500 copies of this particular edition in existence that were signed by Damien Hirst.
“We know the article is genuine as it was kindly gifted by one of our long-standing trustees, Naomi, who has given provenance, and to whom we are very grateful. This Damien Hirst copy really is a rare and brilliant Emmaus find!”
An online auction of the book alongside a pristine copy of the Big Issue – guest edited by Damien during the same year this book was released (1997) – went live on the charity’s eBay store on Sunday.
Emmaus has a charity eBay store as well as several physical Bolton charity shops, providing preloved household items as well as a café, a recycled arts and crafts shop, and a garden centre off Fletcher Street in Bolton.
We also offer furniture-making and upcycling services to help raise funds to support our work helping people in need.
You can visit the listing at Emmaus Bolton’s eBay store at: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405047558197